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5/14/2020
The RD as Food
Labeling Advisor for
Food Companies
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Lauren Swann, MS, RD, LDN
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About Me
I’ve been writing, evaluating, analyzing and advising on food labeling for decades and I still enjoy knowing all about this
part of technical food marketing communications that helps consumers figure out the facts about their food.
I’ve written articles about food labeling for leading industry publications, developed continuing education short courses
for food manufacturers, trade and professional associations, guest lectured at major universities, presented at annual
conferences and developed a series of industry-publicized webinars on specific food labeling subtopics related to product
development and marketing matters - trends, positioning strategy, public health concerns and anticipated regulatory
changes and legal outcomes.
I got my experience in U.S Food & Drug Administration (FDA) and Dept. of Agriculture (USDA) labeling regulations first
from staff positions with major manufacturers but also through consulting work. My marketing communications
background enables integrating how the food label and it's required elements, optional features and associated
promotion influence product and menu development and play a role in successful and effective food marketing.
After earning a Bachelor’s in Medical Dietetics and becoming an RD in 1981, I spent a year in hospital work, then got a
grad degree in Nutrition Communications which led to a Consumer Communications position with Kraft Foods in their
Consumer Affairs department, from there I applied for an internal promotion in the Regulatory Affairs department and
began working as a Labeling Compliance Specialist – 5 years on staff including Supervisor Regulatory Compliance and
Project Manager before going out on my own. Eight years of self-employment led to a position establishing the
Regulatory Affairs department for a Campbell’s Soup spin-off company, Vlasic Foods – a year after they became Pinnacle
Foods I returned to consulting and advisory work.
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Learning Objectives
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Identify core Recognize how a
Explain the
competencies that dietetics educational
role RDs can
relate to applied food foundation can lead
play in food
labeling regulations. to food labeling
labeling advice.
regulations
compliance work.
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5/14/2020
Why This Presentation?
• Frequent inquiries on the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND) Dietetic Practice Group
(DPG) Electronic Mailing Lists (EMLs) about work in food labeling, often from nutrient analyses
requests, yet there is so much more to food labeling regulations compliance
• RDNs exploring food/nutrition labeling can arise in a variety of ways –
such as inquiries from the bakery or café down the street, interest in
a full-time job opening or adding a consulting specialty
• Opportunities are likely to grow with menu labeling compliance and
packaged foods nutrition facts label revisions
• I’m not the first
• My path, others’ paths
• Our educational requirements can be a good foundation
• Scope of Practice v Core Competencies
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Dietetics Scope of Practice
“Scope of practice in nutrition and dietetics encompasses the range of
roles, activities and regulations within which nutrition and dietetics
practitioners perform. For credentialed practitioners, scope of practice is
typically established within the practice act and interpreted and controlled
by the agency or board that regulates the practice of the profession in a
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given state.”
“A credentialed practitioner’s individual scope of practice in nutrition and
dietetics has flexible boundaries to capture the breadth of the
practitioner’s professional practice, which is informed by the RDN’s or
NDTR’s education, training, credentialing, experience, and demonstrated
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competence.”
Food and nutrition labeling regulations compliance work is within a
dietetics scope of practice.
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Scope of Practice. Academy of Nutrition & Dietetics website.
https://www.eatrightpro.org/practice/quality-management/scope-of-
practice Accessed April 23, 2020.
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Hui K, Khan M, McCauley S. Why Do Practitioners Need to Read the
Revised 2017 Scope/Standards Documents? J. Acad. Nutr. Diet.
2018;118(5):964
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Dietetics Scope of Practice
Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics: Revised 2017 Scope of Practice for the Registered
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Dietitian Nutritionist :
Nutrition Informatics
• Use technology for recipe and menu management, perform or oversee nutrition
analysis of product ingredients to comply with state and federal regulations for food
labeling and restaurant menu nutrient analysis.
US Public Health Service
• Manage staff and interns; oversee foodservice operations; provide inpatient and
outpatient clinical nutrition services; plan, design, and implement research; ensure
food and dietary supplement label compliance; inspect food for food safety; and
educate the public on nutrition, food labeling, and biologics.
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Andersen, D, et al. Academy of Nutrition and
Dietetics: Revised 2017 Scope of Practice for the
Registered Dietitian Nutritionist. J. Acad. Nutr. Diet.
2018; 118, (1):141-165.
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5/14/2020
Applied Food Labeling Regulations:
A Core Competency for RDNs
The American Dietetic Association Foundation Knowledge and Skills and Competency
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Requirements for Entry-Level Dietitians:
• Content area: Food
• Basic knowledge about: food technology, biotechnology,
culinary techniques
• Working knowledge of: food and nutrition laws, regulations,
and policies
• Demonstrated ability to: calculate and interpret nutrient composition of foods, translate
nutrition needs into menus for individuals and groups, write specifications for food, apply food
science knowledge to functions of ingredients in food
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The American Dietetic Association Foundation Knowledge and Skills and
Competency Requirements for Entry-Level Dietitians. In: Institute of
Medicine (US) Committee on Nutrition Services for Medicare Beneficiaries.
The Role of Nutrition in Maintaining Health in the Nation's Elderly
Evaluating Coverage of Nutrition Services for the Medicare Population.
Washington (DC): National Academies Press (US); 2000: Appendix E.
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Applied Food Labeling Regulations:
A Core Competency for RDNs
Food & Culinary Professionals DPG
• Core competencies for registered dietitian nutritionists active or
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interested in food and culinary career options within the profession.
• Food laws and standards – federal nutrition label requirements
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Food & Culinary Professionals DPG Core Food & Culinary
Competencies. Food & Culinary Professionals website
accessed April 23, 2020
www.foodculinaryprofs.org/docs/Education/FCP%20core%20c
ompetencies%20final%2012-2015.pdf
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Are There Core Competencies for
Food Labeling specialists?
Northeastern University, Graduate Program in Regulatory Affairs
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Working in Regulatory Affairs: Careers And Trends
• “Regulatory professionals come from a variety of backgrounds; there is no one degree or
career trajectory. Successful regulatory affairs professionals typically have cross-functional
training in areas such as science, pharmacy, engineering, marketing, and business.”
• “Over 88% of current regulatory professionals began working in a different industry before
transitioning into regulatory affairs, according to the 2016 RAPS report. Most of these
individuals worked first in related industries, such as research and development,
manufacturing, clinical research.”
• “A majority of regulatory workers earn undergraduate degrees in the disciplines of life
science, clinical science, public health, or engineering, but others begin in unrelated areas,
such as business, economics, or liberal arts.”
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Working In Regulatory Affairs: Careers And Trends.
Northeastern University Graduate Programs website.
www.northeastern.edu/graduate/blog/working-in-regulatory-
affairs-careers-and-trends/November 3, 2018. Accessed April
23, 2020.
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5/14/2020
Are There Core Competencies for
Food Labeling specialists?
Food Labeling Regulations Compliance tends to fall under:
• “Regulatory Affairs” or “Regulatory Compliance”
• Many in food companies majored in food science or food chemistry – but other basic science
also
• The RDs who trained me had pursued graduate level work and post-grad experience in food
science
• Another example: RD from Gerber’s
• “Become a Labeling Food Technologist: Education and Career Roadmap”
https://study.com/articles/Become_a_Labeling_Food_Technol
ogist_Education_and_Career_Roadmap.html
Food Labeling Specialist: Job Description & Career Definition
https://study.com/articles/food_labeling_specialist_salary_jo
b_description.html
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Food Labeling Overview
Labeling Elements
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Food Labeling Overview: Federal
Government Authorities
Food & Drug Administration (FDA)
• All non-meat/poultry (unless a small percentage of it is contained)
• Includes game/wild meats
• Dietary supplements:
• criteria for product category with specific regulations, some the same as
for food labels and some very different
• Supplement Facts
• No pre-approval process for finished food or dietary supplement product
labels
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